DIRT Modified Nostalgia Tour Headlines Father’s Day Special at Can-Am

COLUMN BY: Tim Baltz / CAN AM SPEEDWAY – LA FARGEVILLE, NY  – Fan appreciation night last Friday at the Can-Am Speedway in Lafargeville New York saw plenty of great racing action, that included repeat winners and drivers returning to the winners circle after a long dry spell.

Derek Webb was the class of the field in the 25 lap Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTCar 358 Modified division Friday night. Webb took the lead at the drop of the green flag and would pull away from Shaun Shaw to record his 4th career Can Am 358 Modified win in the caution free race and end a two year winless drought. Shaw claimed his best finish of the season with a runner up finish, while Billy Dunn took the third spot to move within 4 points of championship leader Tim Fuller heading into this weekend.

Tyler Stevenson came into the night needing a good run to close the gap on points leader Gavin Eisele. He did just that by claiming his 2nd Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTCar Sportsman win. Stevenson used a lap 14 restart to put himself in position to take the top spot in the 20 lap feature. When the green flew Stevenson got by both Owen Nier and Gibbons to record his 10th career Can Am Sportsman win. Gibbons claimed his best finish of the season with a runner up effort, while Keegan Nier scored his 2nd straight 3rd place finish. Eisele still leads by 16 heading into the weekend.

Former Sportsman driver Anthony Fiorentino had not won a feature since he won a Sportsman event on August 10th of 2002 at Can Am and was looking to end that dry spell, taking the lead from Patrick Nolan on lap 5 of the Panther Frameworx Crate Sprint Car feature. Fiorentino was on cruise control but Andrew Hennessy closed the gap in lapped traffic, before the final yellow on lap 15 of the 20 lap event. When the green flew Hennessy took the lead and went on to score his 2nd win of the year after borrowing a motor from Rick Wilson to help keep him in the title hunt. Josh VanBrocklin would cross in 2nd while Fiorentino completed the podium. Josh Verne Jr. increased his points lead to 30 over Ken Klinkowsky with a 4th place finish.

It was another dominant performance for 12 year old Mason Rogers in the 15 lap Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman division. Rogers took the lead from the drop of the green flag and marched on unchallenged for his 4th win of the year and 8th in the division, putting him in sole possession of third on the all time win list behind Owen Nier and leader Paul DeRuyter. Mike Durham had another solid run in 2nd with Hayden Howard third.

Jock Symonds had the crowd and the rest of his Sundance Leisure Thundercar competitors wondering if he was going to make it on time Friday night after he missed the heat race. Symonds would start last on the grid but took the lead quickly and marched on to his 5th win in a row and 6th on the year. Jared Gilson and Collin Bauter completed the top 3. Symonds now has a commanding 66 point lead heading into the first of several off weekends.

What to Watch This Friday night:

• The point race is getting tighter between Tim Fuller and Billy Dunn in the chase for the Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTCar 358 Modified track championship. Four points is all that separates the two winningest active drivers in the division. Lance Willix and Shaun Shaw are still in the mix tied for 3rd just 46 points behind. Dunn is also looking to score his record breaking 74th career Modified win to break the tie with Hall of Famer Pat O’Brien.

• Tyler Stevenson is racing for wins and letting the points take care of themselves and with his 2nd win of the year the point lead is shrinking as just 16 markers separate defending track champion Gavin Eisele and Stevenson. Both drivers are riding a lot of momentum and both collected wins last weekend, as Eisele scored his first win of the season at Brockville last Saturday night.

• Josh Verne Jr. continues to increase his point lead in the Panther Frameworx Crate Sprint Cars, but a pair of veteran drivers have been knocking on the door lately to get back to victory lane. Josh VanBrocklin a three time Sportsman track champion with 28 career wins, claimed a runner up finish last week and could be the driver to make a triumphant return to the winners circle. Anthony Fiorentino, a 4 time Can Am Sportsman feature winner, nearly did that last week finishing 3rd. Both Watertown natives are looking for their first career Crate Sprint Car wins.

• Mason Rogers moved to third on the tracks Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman all time win list, with his 8th career Can Am win Friday. He sits just two behind leader Paul DeRuyter (10) and one behind Owen Nier (9). Mike Durham has also been strong with two wins and a runner up finish in the last three outings and could stop that this Friday night.

• Symonds getting closer to the record again. After starting last one week ago, Jock Symonds showed he is the man to beat this year grabbing his 6th win in 7 races in the Sundance Leisure Thundercars. The win was his 5th in a row putting him closer yet again to the consecutive win record set back in 2015 by Phil Desormeau III at 8 in a row. The Thundercars return to the speedway on July 10th.

This week is the annual Father’s Day Special and the first and only appearance for the DIRT Modified Nostalgia Tour. Also the card will feature the Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTCar 358 Modifieds, Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTCar Sportsman, Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman and Panther Frameworx Crate Sprints. Racing begins at 7pm.

To keep up with what is happening at Can Am Speedway in 2026 stay tuned to our website at racecanam.com. Also give us a follow on our Facebook page and be sure to follow us on My Race Pass for the live timing and scoring at all events. Can Am events will be broadcast weekly on Dirt Track Digest TV.